Window finish strip



Aug. 23, 1938.

c. H. WIDMAN ET AL. 2,127,499

WINDOW FINISH STRIP Original Filed May 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTUREi C774 rZes ii z'drzr filf'red Hakeraiz/mp.

ATTORNEYS.

Au 23, 193s,

I WINDOW FTNISH STRIP Original Filed May 18.

c. HIWIDMAN ET AL 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iii-4.1.5

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Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW FINISH STRIP Application May 18, 1933, Serial No. 671,614

Renewed February 1, 1937 7 Claims.

Our invention relates to door and window constructions and particularly to a finish element employed in conjunction with the body panel which forms a finish to the edge of the window opening therein and which constitutes with the body elements portions of the glass guide channel.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to preform the paneling about the window openings to provide a reversely bent portion to form the finish or window reveal about the window opening. As is well known in the art, the dies for reversely bending a portion of a panel are very expensive so that the panels containing the reveal portion of the window, whether in the door or the body portion of the vehicle, were expensive to manufacture and only by a large production could such dies be warranted.

In view of the rapid changes in body forms and window shapes, sufficient stampings are not now manufactured for a particular design of .automo-. bile body to warrant such expensive dies and for this reason our present invention, which eliminates the expensive portion of the dies required to produce the reverse bend at the window opening, materially reduces the cost of the panels. The metal at the window edge is out to define the edge and to project in a plane parallel to that of the window. A finish strip in the nature of a window reveal is disposed thereover to completely encompass the projecting portion of the panel defining the opening and which is extended to form the side and the bottom of a glass run guide about the opening.

The finish element, so formed, is insertable over the edge of the window opening from the inside of the body or door and is snapped over the projecting portion of the door panel, after which the inside finish molding is securedto the window framing in the door or body portion tocomplete the glass run guide. The finish framing may be painted the same color as that of the body or doors so that it will not be distinguished as separate elements or they may be chrome plated or otherwise finished to provide a contrast with the paneling about the window opening.

Accordingly, the main objects of our invention are: to provide an edge about the window opening in the nature of a flange disposedinwardly in the plane of the opening; to provide a finish framing which engages the inwardly projecting flange for encompassing the flange and providing a finish to its edge; to have the framing extend laterally of the window opening to form the bottom of the glass run guide; to weld a reinforcing member to the flange. defining the marginal edge,

the edges of which are encompassed by the finish strip or framing; and, in general, to provide a finish element for an edge of a panel in a vehicle, which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture. "5-

Other objects and features of novelty of our invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of our invention, to the fol-- lowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the door having a finish strip about the window opening which embodies features of our invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3--3 thereof, 20

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing a modified form thereof,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, in elevation, of the finish framing illustrated on the door of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional View of a vehicle door at the window opening, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4, showing a modified form thereof,

Fig. 7 is a broken sectional view, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6, showing a further modified form of construction, 30

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a structure, similar to that illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, showing a further modified form thereof,

. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, taken on the line 99 thereof,

Fig. 10 is a broken View, in elevation, of a door, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing a modified form thereof,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, taken on the line li -ll thereof,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, taken on the line ill-.42 thereof, and i Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 10. taken on the line l3-l 3 thereof. The door i5 is illustrated in Fig. 1 as having anouter panel IE which is flanged inwardly to form the window reveal H, the inner edges of which are finished by a framing H3 in accordance with our invention,

. In Figs. 2 and 3, we have illustrated side rails Ill and top rails 20 asform'ing the outer confines of. the doonever which the outer panel I6 is reversely bent at 2| and welded to form the door structure. The reveal portion I"! is formed in the door with the end 22, defining the window opening, constituting a flange in a plane parallel to the door window. A reinforcing member 23 is shown in Fig. 2 as being of Z-section with one leg welded or otherwise secured to the top rail 23 and the other leg extending to intercept the upward travel of the window. The strip I8 is preferably constructed of spring steel having an arcuately shaped or bead portion 24 in extension of a web portion 25 which is bent at right angles at 26 to form the bottom of the glass guide run, the web 25 forming the side thereof.

The strip I8 is illustrated in Fig. 5 as being of the shape of the window opening and separated at 21 to permit the framing to be overlapped so that it may be mounted in the window opening. In Fig. 3. we have iilustrated the side construction of the door wherein a channelshaped element 28 is secured to the web of the side rail I9 for engagement with the bottom 26 of the strip I8. The frame or strip I8 is mounted from the inside of the wall or body, through the window opening, the joint 21! permitting the frame to be sprung suihciently so as to have the bead 24 pass over the flange 22. Thereafter the frame I8 is pushed outwardly to have the bead 2:1 snap over the flange 22 and the web 28 engage the supporting elements 23 or 28 as the case may be. The spring tension in the bead 24 is sufficient to retain the frame in position when the ends of the strip are in aligned relation, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and, when desirable, further support may be provided by screws 29.

With this construction, a finish is provided for the edge of the window opening which eliminates the reversely bent portion of the panel I6 which, as pointed out hereinbefore, requires expensive dies and oftentimes, due to the extreme drawing operation, caused the scrapping of the panels. After the strip or framing I8 has been thus assembled, an inner frame 3| is then mounted on the rails I9 and 20 of the door by screws 32 or other means well known in the art. The inwardly projecting flange 33 of the frame 3! forms the side of the glass guide run for retaining a channel molding 34 in position to permit the sliding of a window 35 therein.

It will be noted that the flange 26 is omitted from the framing is at its bottom, the flange 25 being extended at 36, which permits the window 35 to pass down below the window opening. When the window is to be removed, it is only necessary to remove the frame 3 I, as has been the practice in the past.

In Fig. 4, we have shown a modified form of construction employing a supporting member 31, which is similar to the supporting member 23 above referred to, with the exception that an additional flange 38 is provided thereon. This flange mates with the flange 22 of the panel I8 and is welded thereto to form a box section structure with the panel I6 and the rail I9 to add strength thereto. The bead 24 of the framing or strip I8 snaps over both of the flanges 22 and 38 and effects the finish thereto in the same manher as in the structure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This box section construction is similar to that obtained when the flange 22 was continued and reversely bent by the expensive dies above referred to. The present is a much cheaper construction and provides the same general utility. Difiiculty was experienced in welding such box sections when the joints were lapped one upon the other, to provide a smooth appearance and by placing the joints in parallel relation the welding operation is simplified and a finish obtained by the bead on the strip I8.

In Fig. 6, We have shown a further modified form of construction wherein a wood strip 39 is provided between the web 26 of the strip I8 and the rail I9. Screws 29 are employed for retaining the strips 39 in position relative to the rail I9 and the element l8.

In Fig. 7, we have shown a modified form of construction wherein a rail 4|, similar to the rail I9, is further preformed throughout its length or at spaced intervals to provide the outwardly projecting channel portion 42 against which the web 26 of the strip I8 abuts. The web portion may be screwed, welded or otherwise secured thereto and may be retained thereagainst by the spring tension provided in the bed 24 of the frame I8.

In Fig. 8, we have shown a further extension of the inventive concept wherein the web portion 26 of the strip I8 is itself deformed at spaced intervals to provide outwardly pressed portion 43 which engages the web of the rail I9.

As a further form of our invention, we have illustrated in Figs. to 13 inclusive 2. door 46 hav ing a framing 4'! at the marginal edge of the window opening which is similar to the framing I8 with the exception that it is substantially of U-shape, the bottom section being omitted. In view of the elimination of the glass run guide at this portion of the window opening, it is only necessary to flange the paneling 48 of the door downwardly, at 49, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 11. The top and side rail construction is substantially the same as those illustrated in the foregoing figures as well as the cross section of the framing 41, the only difference being the elimination of the slit 21 in the framing I8 through the formation of the strip into a U- shaped framing, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The lower ends of the framing 41 are turned inwardly, at 5|, to unite with the flange 49 and with the bead 52 provided at the lower edge of the window opening, defined by the panel 48. A joint is provided between the bead 52 on the panel 48 and the bead 24 on the frame 41, as illustrated more clearly in section, in Figs. 11 to 13.

Fig. 11 illustrates the reversely bent portion of the panel with its depending flange 49, while Fig. 12 is a section of the window opening at the corner beyond the reversely bent portion and flange 49, which is similar in construction to that illustrated in Fig. 2. The single reverse bend provided in the flange 49 at the bottom of the paneling is not so diflicult or expensive of construction in view of the fact that no outwardly disposed flange is provided to form the bottom of the glass guide run as has been the practice and the diflicult drawing operations at the corners are eliminated. The rolled section 52 is offset at 53 beyond the ends of the flange 49 to form the flange 22 about the opening. The junction between the ends of the frame 47 and the rolled section 52 forms a smooth appearance as illustrated in Figs. l0, l1 and l3. In either construction, the edge of the panel presents a pleasing appearance and the structure is materially reduced in cost.

While we have described and illustrated various embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, as set forth in the ac- 'companying claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An automotive vehicle having a panel defining a window opening, a window for said opening, a flange on said panel spaced from but parallel tothe plane of the window, and a frame of at least three sides and of L-sectio-n having a rolled edge which forms a spring and provides a finish to the flange of said panel and constitutes a side and bottom of a glass run guide.

2. An automotive vehicle having a panel defining a window opening, a window for said opening, a flange on said panel spaced from but parallel to the plane of the window, and a frame of L-section having a rolled edge which forms a finish to the flange of said panel and which constitutes a side and bottom of a glass run guide, said frame being split to permit its insertion from the inner side of said'vehicle.

3. An automotive vehicle having a panel defin-' ing a window opening, a window for said opening, a'flange on said panel spaced from but parallel to the plane of the window, a frame of at least three sides of L-section having a rolled edge which forms a spring and provides a finish for the flange of said panel and constitutes a side and bottom of a glass run guide, and reinforcing means supporting the bottom portion of said guide.

4. An automotive vehicle having a panel defining a window opening, a window for said opening, a flange on said panel spaced from but parallel to the plane of the window, a frame of L- section having a rolled edge which forms a finish to the flange of said panel and which constitutes a side and bottom of a glass run guide, said frame being split to permit its insertion from the inner side of said vehicle, and reinforcing means for supporting the bottom portion of said guide run. g g

5. An automotive vehicle having a panel defining a window opening, a window for said opening, a flange on said panel at the two sides and top of the opening, spaced from but parallel to the plane of the window, said panel at the lower side of the opening being reversely bent to form a finish therefor, and a three-sided frame having a resilient rolled edge which extends over the flange of the two sides and top of the window opening to support said frame thereto and to form a finish therefor.

6. An automotive vehicle having a panel defining a window opening, a window for said opening, a flange on said panel at the two sides and top of the opening spaced from but parallel to the plane of the window, the panel at the bottom side being reversely bent to form a finish therefor, and a three-sided frame of L-section having a rolled edge spring pressed against a web of the section which frictionally engages the flange of the two sides and the top of the window opening to form a finish therefor and to constitute a side and bottom of a glass run guide.

7. An automotive vehicle having a panel defining a window opening, a window for said opening, a flange on said panel spaced from but parallel to the plane of the window, a finish strip of resilient material having a lip formed thereon, said strip being adapted to receive said flange between the lip portion thereof and the body portion thereof whereby said strip will be retained in position with respect to said flange through the resiliency of the material of said strip, the lip portion and body portion of said strip engaging the flange at the same points on opposite sides thereof.

CHARLES H. WIDMAN. ALFRED H. HABERSTUMP. 

